Problem: Car pulls to the left. Steering wheel is also off center to go straight down the road. Been like this for a very long time.
Alignment settings (Left/Right), Front:
Caster: .2 / 1.2
Camber: -1.0 / -1.4
Toe: 1/32" / 1/32"
Total Toe: 1/16"
Rear:
Camber: -1.1 / -1.4
Toe: 0" / 0"
Thrust Angle: 0.0
Relavent history: Hit a curb about 2 years ago. It was the front left wheel. It hit hard enough to puncture the tires side wall, but it didnt hit that fast.
It just so happens that on the wheel that hit, the caster is not as positive as it should be. So then the question is what is causing the caster to be off. It has been suggested that it could be a bent control arm, or a bent cross member (Where the control arm attatches). How am I supposed to find out what is bent?
It has also been suggested that the difference in camber between right and left could cause it to pull. Any help would be appreciated.
-Mike
Usually a car will pull to the side with the least positive caster. Cars usually pull to the wise with the most positive camber,so I would say look at your camber settings before tring to see if anything is bent.How is the wear pattern on your tires?
2014 Tacoma TRD Sport Double cab
2017 Toyota iA/Mazda 2
That caster number really jumped out at me. Made me think something was bent (and then I read the rest of your post.)
but caster shouldnt technically make your car pull, since it is a dynamic angle and really only affects your car while the wheels are turned.
But since something is bent, that could change things, because there is probably more to it than just the alignment numbers.
First thing I would do would be to get under the car and look really really hard at all the suspension points. Really Hard. with a flashlight.
If you cant find anything, then you should decide whether you want to start throwing parts at it (and potentially spend more money) or send it to a reputable shop and let them tell you.
If, say a control arm is relatively cheap for your car, it may be worth to put a new one on yourself. Control arms are usually engineered so that they take the brunt of the force of an impact, and prevent other parts from getting damaged. So my money would be on that part.
also, count on getting an alignment. Your camber numbers, while they shouldnt cause the pull themselves, they are probably contributing to it. And you would need one after putting any parts on the car anyway.
Good idea,a visual inspection is definatly a good plan to see if anything is bent. Caster is a stability angle,so it really should not make the car pull bad,though it is used to correct road crown. But it would be worth a shot to jack the car up and look at everything,pull the wheels off and see if anything is noticably bent, and hopefully it won't cost much or could be corrected with an alignment.
2014 Tacoma TRD Sport Double cab
2017 Toyota iA/Mazda 2
Thanks for the advice guys. I could use some camber bolts to increase negative camber on the front left, but if something is bent, then thats just a band aid and I'd like to fix it. I would love to get my positive caster back.
CCVT VP 05-06
1991 Sentra SE-R w/ SR20VE
1994 Yamaha Seca II
I havnt looked very closely at anything, but from my casual visual inspection, everything appears ok.
CCVT VP 05-06
1991 Sentra SE-R w/ SR20VE
1994 Yamaha Seca II
Yeah,a bent control arm seems far fetched to me if the hit wasn't hard. Tie rods give easier. Chances are,if your tie rods are ok,the control arm is too. It is odd that the caster is so far off though.
2014 Tacoma TRD Sport Double cab
2017 Toyota iA/Mazda 2
I had/have the same problem.
My control arm bent, along with the radius rod and rear subframe member. I've even replaced the tie rod ends. The car still pulls.
Check all of those pieces, or their equivelants based on your car (this was a '93 Accord). The front crossmember might also have wrinkled.
The radius rod, however, seems to be the weakest link in the joint.
When it comes to Ryan Jenkins, the story ends with me putting him in the wall.
2009 Speed Triple | 2006 DR-Z400SM | 1999 CBR600F4 | 1998 Jeep Cherokee
-Ginger
I did the exact same thing as you once. Was doing a U-turn in my Eclipse and whacked a curb. It drifted pretty violently and was a royal PITA to drive (so obviously not as bad as yours). Took it to a mechanic (before I started doin my own work) and I had bent the shit out of a tie rod. Best bet might be to let somebody at a shop try to find it. Sounds like you have something similar to mine.
